Diana Gomes's late goal secured a 1-1 draw for Portugal against Italy in a thrilling Group B match at the Women's Euro 2025, keeping Portugal's hopes alive in the tournament. The match, held on Monday, saw Cristiana Girelli score a stunning goal in the second half, which was ultimately canceled out by Gomes's dramatic equalizer.
Italy appeared to be on their way to the quarter-finals after Girelli's impressive strike in the 70th minute. Girelli shifted the ball to her right foot at the edge of the box and unleashed a curling shot into the top right corner, leaving Portugal's goalkeeper Patricia Morais with little chance of stopping it. The 35-year-old Girelli was emotional after scoring, but her joy was short-lived.
Portugal, however, refused to surrender. In the 89th minute, their persistence paid off when a corner kick caused chaos in the Italian defense. The ball was worked back into the box, and Diana Gomes fired it into the roof of the net, sending the Portuguese fans into a frenzy.
The draw spoiled Italy's chance of securing a spot in the knockout round on Monday. Spain is currently the only Group B team to have guaranteed a quarter-final spot after their 6-2 victory over Belgium.
Portugal's coach, Francesco Neto, expressed his pride in his team's performance. He stated that they played with bravery, pressed their opponents, and demonstrated the qualities of a team competing in the European Championship. He emphasized the team's personality and ambition.
Italy's defender, Cecilia Salvai, described the night as a mix of emotions. She acknowledged the regret of not winning the match but also recognized the risk of losing it. Salvai praised Portugal for maintaining a high pace throughout the match and admitted that Italy had some chances, but sometimes it comes down to small margins.
The match was a slow burner that came to life in the final 20 minutes. Diana Silva had a goal disallowed by VAR for a very tight offside call. Carole Costa also hit the underside of the crossbar with a header from a corner. Moments later, Diana Gomes connected with a cross from Dolores Silva to lob the ball over the Italian goalkeeper.
Despite the draw, Portugal's Euro campaign remains alive. To finish second in Group B and reach the quarter-finals, they need to beat Belgium in their final match, hope Italy loses to Spain, and achieve a six-goal swing in goal difference between themselves and the Italians.
One major positive for Portugal was the return of Kika Nazareth, who had been sidelined for four months due to a left ankle ligament injury. Despite not being fully fit, Kika's touch, vision, and anticipation provided a significant boost to the team.
With Kika back in action and an improved performance in the second half against Italy, Portugal believes they can defeat Belgium and hope for a favorable result in the Italy vs. Spain match. However, Ana Borges was sent off late in the game after receiving a second yellow card.
